OMG!! 104 degrees!

This was about 3pm today
just before we pulled in.

Leave it to us to find our way to the hottest area of the country. Here we are out in the middle of nowhere Texas and right now the temperature is a mild 101 degrees and going down---very slowly.  This beats our record of high temps while traveling by two degrees.  Two summers ago we had 102 in Pendleton, OR and Winnemucca, NV.  Once it's this high it's just HOT!  The inside of the RV was at 92.4 when we stopped and we have it cooled off now to about 86 or so (it's 6:30). My toes look like little pork sausages and even Maggie doesn't want to go outside.



Speaking of the Maggster - well, our theory about the neighbors at the last place setting her off turned out to be a bogus one.  We got in around 3pm today, as mentioned above, and the office was closed until 4pm.  So, about ten minutes after 4 we walked over to the office to officially check in - we were already in a site and set up.  (We just picked one and moved right in. It's not like the place is full.) We were gone maybe 15 minutes.  When we returned we found the metal screen protector in shreds.  Now, the thing is metal and sharp but we found no blood, torn toes or tears around her mouth which is surprising. The destruction looked as if she were really frantic trying to get out.  WHY?  This is exactly what happened on our summer trip on our first week out with her.  She stopped doing this about half way through that trip and until night before last she was OK.  So, what has triggered the anxiety?  We haven't a clue. Rog went out to fuel the truck after dinner and I stayed home with her this time.  She must have gone to the door and put her nose in the hole that is in the screen five times then she would walk away and be OK but watching the door, but, then I was here.
  

Rog took the metal screen off so she wouldn't hurt herself, there's a small hole in the screening material, but if she tries again there won't be any of that left!   We are thinking of setting up her pen in the living room and do a trial separation at our next stop and see what happens.  We hate the idea of getting a kennel/crate and putting her in it, but otherwise we can't go out together without worrying about her destroying something and hurting herself.  We are so close to home to resort to that but what to do? 

The drive today was fairly easy.  It took us about an hour and a half to get around Dallas/Ft. Worth and head northwest.  The traffic wasn't awful - we didn't leave until 9:30.   We found a nice rest area for lunch - trees and picnic tables.  As we were taking our lunch sacks to the table we got stopped by the attendant and told that Maggie couldn't go to the picnic area.  So, since we were parked under a nice shade tree we just got our chairs out and sat there next to the RV and ate.  Crazy.

My observations today - huge homes with high roof lines dot the whole area east and south of the metropolitan area of DFW.  In addition there must have been a dozen mega-churches.  It's amazing how large they are.  Mind boggling.  Then when we were in Fort Worth and driving past a very poor neighborhood I noticed that the little church on one of the blocks had all its windows barred. What a comparison.  

Trucks.  Everywhere.  Dealerships abound with big semi's for sale.  Quadruple those and you will get the dealerships that sell pick up trucks by the gazillion.  It was amazing.  Not too many cars on their lots but tons of pick ups.  Hmmm...Texas?

We ran out of the pretty part of Texas about noon or so.  The large ranches, grasslands, and large homes disappeared and we went through a stretch where the landscape was dotted with oil wells instead of cattle.  The land became dry and barren with only scrub trees for green.    

Cotton Gin

Where we are now is the same but the RV park office and facilities are in an old cotton gin building which is kinda cool. Apparently in years past this whole area grew cotton.  The clerk says they are in year four of a major drought.  The towns nearby are sad looking - one we went through reminded me of the movie "The Last Picture Show."  The whole downtown was boarded up.  Very sad to see. We are between the metropolises of Quanan and Goodlett, Texas - two small towns that I think are getting smaller.  

Tomorrow our destination is Tucumcari, New Mexico - about 260 miles and finally in Mountain Time!  We go northwest from here to Amarillo, TX and then get on I-40 and head west.  Temps in Tucumcari are predicted to be a nice cool 88!!!